Wire coiling apparatus



Feb. 11, 1964 L. LORENZ 3,120,931

' WIRE COILING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Shecl FIG.2

"Hill" I mm INVENTOR 4 Leo Lorenz 33 34 BY g IZ? 7 Z Mw ATTORNEYS Feb. 11, 1964 LORENZ 3,120,931

WIRE COILING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 INVENTOR. L e0 Lo re n 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,l2tl,3l WEE CQILHNG APPARATUS Leo Lorenz, Bradenton, Fla, assignor to Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, a corporation of Delaware Original application Get. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 844,629. Di-

vided and this application Feb. 19, 1963, Ser. No.

12 Qlaims. (fl. 242-33) This invention relates to apparatus for coiling fine magnet wire in cylindrical pails and, more particularly, to coiling apparatus wherein magnet wire is drawn between a pinch-roll and a circular capstan ring against which the pinch-roll bears, so that the wire falls from the ring into a cylindrical pail in substantially circular coils. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 844,029, filed October 2, 1959.

Fine magnet wire heretofore has generally been packaged on reels or spools. The amount of fine wire that can as a practical matter be wound on a single spool is limited to not more than to pounds. There is a substantial demand for fine magnet wire in packages of much larger size, but heretofore it has been impractical commercially to make such larger packages.

In recent years means have been developed for packaging relatively large magnet wire (say No. B. & S. gauge and larger) in drums containing several hundred pounds, but such packages are too large for the finer sizes and the apparatus used to prepare such packages is not suited to handling fine wire sizes.

The present invention provides an improved wire coiling apparatus which is well suited to packaging fine ma net wire sizes in pails, in weights up to about 100 pounds. The new apparatus serves to draw the wire from any suitable source and to coil it in a pail or like container. A feature of the new coiling apparatus, which makes it especially suitable for coiling fine sizes of magnet wire, is that it imparts a circular cast to the wire in a horizontal plane before dropping it into the substantially cylindrical pail. As a result, the wire emerges from the feeding device already possessing substantially the desired configuration, and fails into position in circular loops. The apparatus of the invention is of sturdy and quite simple construction and does not require any form of traversing or oscillating mechanism.

Broadly stated, the new apparatus for coiling magnet wire comprises a stationary frame and a wire feeding head mounted rotatably about a fixed vertical axis. A capstan ring is afiixed to the frame coaxially with respect to the feeding head axis of rotation. A pinchroll is rotatably mounted on the feeding head about an axis intersecting the feeding head axis of rotation. This pinch-roll is in continuous rolling engagement with a circular track formed about the capstan ring perpendicular to the pinch roll axis. Pulley means are rotatably mounted on the rotatable feeding head and frame for receiving a moving length of wire and discharging it in the plane of and tangentially onto the pinch-roll. Consequently, as the feeding head is rotated, wire is drawn from the pulley means between the pinch-roll and the capstan ring and caused to fall through the capstan ring in substantially circular coils.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pinch-roll is vertical and is rotatably mounted on the feeding head about a horizontal axis intersecting the feeding head axis of rotation and is in continuous rolling engagement with a flat circular track formed on the upper surface of the capstan ring. In another embodiment of the apparatus, the pinch-roll is rotatably mounted on the feeding head about an axis inclined downwardly toward and intersecting the feeding head axis of rotation and rolls about a circular downwardly and inwardly inclined track formed about an internal conical surface of the capstan ring. In each of these embodiments, a horizontal table may be rotatably mounted beneath the capstan ring and powered by driving means. This table is adapted to have a cylindrical pail secured coaxially thereto and may be rotated about an axis offset from the feeding head axis of rotation by constant and/ or variable speed drives.

Preferred embodiments of the new wire coiling apparatus are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus wherein the pinch-roll is mounted about an inclined axis and is adapted to roll about a track formed about an internal conical surface of the capstan ring;

FIG. 2 is an elevation partly broken away of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified elevation showing an embodiment of the apparatus in which the axis of the horizontal table is oiiset from that of the feeding head;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the apparatus wherein the pinch-roll is mounted about a horizontal axis and is adapted to roll about a fiat circular track formed on the upper surface of the capstan ring;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation partly broken away showing the feeding head and capstan ring of the apparams of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the feeding head and capstan ring of F IG. 5.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus includes a frame 10 having a yoke portion 11 which underlies a horizontal circular capstan ring 12. The capstan ring 12 has an annular groove 13 formed about its outer periphery and a track 14 formed about an internal conical surface on its upper face. Rotatably mounted coaxially with respect to the capstan ring 12 is a feeding head 15 which includes a fiyer wheel 36 disposed concentrically about the capstan ring. The flyer wheel 16 has a plurality of rollers 17 extending radially inwardly from its inner periphery in rolling engagement with the bottom surface of the circular groove 13 in the capstan ring. The feeding head 15 is adapted to be retated about the capstan ring on the rollers 17 by means of a belt 13 which runs about the outer periphery of the fiyer wheel 16 and is powered by a driving pulley 19. Idling guide rollers 2t) and 21 are rotatably mounted on the frame 10 in rolling engagement with the outer periphery of the fiyer wheel 16 to support the flyer wheel as the entire feeding head 15 rotates.

In addition to the flyer wheel 16, the rotatable feeding head 15 includes an arm 22 which extends rigidly upwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of the fiyer wheel 16. Rotatably mounted on the arm 22 is a pinchroll 23, of rubber or other resilient material, which is freely rotatable about an aXis inclined downwardly toward and intersecting the feeding head axis. The pinchroll 23 bears against and is in continuous rolling engagement with the track 14 on the capstan ring 12, so that when the feeding head 15 is rotated the pinch-roll rolls about the track 14. On an upper sidewardly extending portion 24 of the arm 22 is a pulley 25 which is rotatably mounted in the plane of and about an axis parallel to the axis of the pinch-roll 23. The feeding head 15 also includes a curved guide tube 26 mounted. by brackets 27 to the upper surface of the fly'er wheel 16 adjacent the arm 22. One end of the guide tube 26 is adjacent and substantially tangential to the lower edge of the pinchroll 23 and the other end of the guide tube curves around and downwardly adjacent the inner surface of the capstan ring 12.

The frame 10* includes an upright member 23 having an upper horizontal end portion 29 to which a shaft St) is attached extending substantially centrally over the capd stan ring 12. A supporting member 31 is pivotally mounted from the end of the shaft 39' and depends downwardly therefrom. At the lower end of the supporting member 31, a sheave '32 is rotatably mounted. Thus, the sheave 32 can swing from side-to-side on the member 31.

In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. '1 and 2, a rotatable table 33 is mounted coaxially beneath the capstan ring 12. The table 33 may be turned by any suitable driving means, such as a drive shaft 34 which may be driven in either direction and preferably at either a constant or a variable speed. By any suitable attachment means, the table 33 is adapted to have temporarily secured thereto a cylindrical pail 35 of a type designed to contain coils of magnet wire and to serve as a shipping package. Such a pail advantageously includes a concentric interior core 36, and thus defines an annular wire-receiving space 37. The mean diameter of the annular space 37 should be approximately equal to the inside diameter of the capstan ring 12.

In the operation of this embodiment of the apparatus a length of Wire 38 from any suitable source is brought over the sheave 32 and downwardly partially around the pulley as shown. The wire 38 is discharged from the pulley 25 tangentially onto that side of the pinch-roll 23 remote from the guide tube 26, and thence between the pinch-roll and the track 14 on the capstan ring 12. Upon rotation of the feeding head in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1, by means of the drive pulley 19 and belt 18, the pinch-roll 23 rolls about the track 14 on the capstan ring and draws the length of wire 38 from the pulley 25 and the sheave 32. Thus, the Wire 38 is directed through the guide tube 26 and falls from the capstan ring 12 in substantially circular coils into the pail 35. As the feeding head .15 rotates in this manner and the Wire 38 is drawn from the sheave 32, the sheave 32 swings from side-to-side so that it always directs the wire downwardly and outwardly toward the circularly moving pulley 25.

The arrangement of the coils of the wire 38 in the cylindrical container 35 may be varied by rotating the container on its table 3 3 by means of the driving shaft 34. For example, if it is desired to lay the coils close to the interior core 36 of the container, the table 33 is rotated clockwise slightly as the feeding head 15 is rotated counterclockwise (each as seen from above); and, conversely, if it is desired to lay the coils near the wall of the pail the table 33 is rotated slowly counterclockwise. It is also possible cyclically to vary the size of the coils so that they are laid as successive flat spirals, which alternately grow larger as each successive turn advances away from the core 36 until the last turn is approximately the diameter of the outer wall of the container and then grow smaller until the last turn is approximately the diameter of the core 36. This may be accomplished simply by cyclically varying the speed (and if desired also the direction) of rotation of the table 33 by suitable actuation of the driving shaft 34. A correlation must, of course, be established between the maximum and minimum speeds of such a variable speed drive and the constant speed of rotation of the feeding head of the apparatus.

In another embodiment of the apparatus, shown in FIG. 3 with the reference numerals of FIGS. 1 and 2 used to designate parts which are identical in form and function, the axis of rotation of a table 40 is offset with respect to the vertical axis of the capstan ring 12. By this modification, it is possible to lay coils eccentrically relative to the axis of the cylindrical container. Its partioular advantage is that it permits the coils to be disposed eccentrically relative to the pail axis and to each other thereby avoiding a build-up of superimposed coils which may eventually slip sidewise and tend to snarl. To this end, the table 40 of the apparatus of FIG. 4 is slowly rotated at constant speed in either direction by a drive means 41 as the feeding head is rotated in the manner described previously.

Turning now to the embodiment of the new wire coiling apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 through 6, a frame supports a circular capstan ring 51 in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A cylindrical pail 52 is adapted to be mounted on a horizontal table beneath the capstan ring 51 as in the previous embodiment, and the table may be driven by a constant or variable speed drive. A rotatable sheave 54, adapted to swing laterally from side-to-side about a horizontal shaft 55 extending from an upright member 56, also extends substantially centrally over the capstan rhig 51 as before.

An annular groove 58 is formed about the outer periphcry of the capstan ring 51 and a flat horizontal track 59 is formed about the upper surface of the capstan ring. Rotatably mounted coaxially with respect to the capstan ring 5'1 is a feeding head 60' which includes a fly'er wheel 61 disposed concentrically outside the capstan ring 51. A plurality of rollers 62 extend radially inwardly from the inner periphery of the fiyer wheel 61 in rolling engagement with the bottom surface of the circular groove 58, so that the flyer wheel 61 is rotatable about the capstan ring 51 on the rollers. The feeding head 69* is powered by means of a belt 63 which runs about the outer periphery of the flyer wheel 61 and is driven by a driving pulley 6 mounted on the frame 50. To support the fiyer wheel 61 as the feeding head rotates, idling guide rollers 65 and 66 are rotatably mounted on the frame 50 in rolling engagement with the outer periphery of the flyer wheel.

The rotatable feeding head 65 also includes a vertical arm 63 which extends rigidly upwardly from the upper edge of the flyer wheeL. A pinch-roll is freely rotatable on the arm 68 about a horizontal axis which intersects the axis of the capstan ring. The pinch-roll 70 bears against the track 59 on the capstan ring 51 and is adapted to roll about the track in continuous rolling engagement therewith when the feeding head is rotated. On an upwardly extending portion 71 of the arm 68, a pulley 72 is rotatably mounted about an exis disposed at right angles to the axis of the pinch-roll 70. Also, a pulley 73 is rotatably mounted on a sidewardly extending portion 74 of the arm 68 in the plane of the pinch-roll 70.

The feeding head 60 also includes a curved guide tube 75 supported by brackets 76 and 77' on the upper surface of the fiyer wheel 61 adjacent the arm 6%. The end of the guide tube 75 nearest the arm 68 is arranged adjacent and substantially tangential to the lower edge of the pinch-roll 70 and the opposite end of the guide tube 75 curves around and downwardly adjacent the inner surface of the capstan ring 51.

In coiling a length of wire '78 by means of this embodiment of the apparatus, the wire is brought over the sheave 54 and downwardly and outwardly to the pulley 72. The pulley 72 is positioned so that the wire 7% passes partially around it and is directed downwardly about the pulley 73. From the pulley '73, the wire proceeds tangentially onto the pinch-roll 70 and thence between the pinch-roll and the track 59 on the capstan ring 51. As the feeding head 6%} is rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4 by means of the drive pulley 64 and belt 63 the flyer wheel 61 moves around the groove 58 and the pinch-roll 7b rolls about the track 5% on the capstan ring. This causes the wire 78 to be drawn from the pulleys 73 and 72 and sheave 54, and to be directed through the guide tube 75. The wire then falls from the capstan ring 51 in substantially circular coils into the pail 52. As the feeding head 66' rotates in this manner and the wire is drawn from the sheave 54, the sheave 54 swings from side-to-side so that it always directs the wire downwardly and outwardly toward the circularly moving pulley 72.

Again, the arrangement and size of the coils of wire formed by this apparatus may be varied by varying the relative rotation between the feeding head 66 and pail, as described in reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1

and 2. Also, by offsetting the axis of the pail, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, the coils may be laid eccentrically. In addition, the size of the coils may be varied slightly both in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 and in this embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6 simply by adjusting the position of the pulleys and 73 respectively along their corresponding axes of rotation. This permits the wire to be directed onto the circumference of the pinchrolls 23 and 70 respectively at various positions between the edges thereof so that the wire can be rolled onto the capstan rings 12 and 51 in coils of slightly different diameter.

In each embodiment of this wire coiling apparatus, either the pinch-roll or the capstan ring may be made of some resilient material, such as rubber. It is preferable, however, that that element of the two which is not of such resilient material should be of a hard material such as metal, so that good traction is provided during the travel of the pinch-roll about its capstan ring.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coiling magnet wire comprising a stationary frame, a wire feeding head mounted rotatably about a fixed vertical axis, a capstan ring aflixed to said frame coaxially with respect to the feeding head axis of rotation, a pinch-roll rotatably mounted on said feeding head about an axis intersecting the feeding head axis of rotation, a circular track formed about said capstan ring perpendicular to the pinch-roll axis, said pinch-roll being in continuous rolling engagement with said track, and pulley means rotatably mounted on said rotatable feeding head and said frame for receiving a moving length of Wire and discharging it in the plane of and tangentially onto said pinch-roll, whereby as said feeding head is rotated wire is drawn from said pulley means between said pinch-roll and said capstan ring and caused to fall through said capstan ring in substantially circular coils.

2. Apparatus for coiling magnet wire comprising a stationary frame, a capstan ring rigidly affixed to said stationary frame about a vertical axis, said capstan ring having a circular groove formed about its outer periphery, a feeding head rotatably mounted about the vertical axis of said capstan ring, said feeding head including a flyer wheel disposed concentrically around said capstan ring, a plurality of rollers extending radially inwardly from the inner periphery of said flyer wheel in rolling engagement with said groove in said capstan ring, driving means for rotating said feeding head on said rollers about said capstan ring, a pinch-roll rotatably mounted on said feeding head about an axis intersecting the feeding head axis of rotation, a circular track formed about said capstan ring perpendicular to the pinch-roll axis, said pinch-roll being in continuous rolling engagement with said track, a sheave for receiving a moving length of wire mounted on said frame above said feeding head substantially centrally over said capstan ring and adapted to swing laterally from side-to-side, and pulley means rotatably mounted on said feeding head for receiving said wire from said sheave and discharging it in the plane of and tangentially onto said pinch-roll, whereby as said feeding head is rotated wire is drawn from said sheave and pulley means between said pinch-roll and capstan ring and is caused to fall through said capstan ring in substantially circular coils.

3. Apparatus for coiling magnet wire comprising a stationary frame, a wire feeding head rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, a capstan ring rigidly afiixed to said stationary frame coaxially with respect to the axis of said feeding head, a pinch roll rotatably mounted on said feeding head about an axis inclined downwardly toward and intersecting the feeding head axis, a circular downw-ardlly and inwardly inclined track formed about an internal conical surface of said capstan ring, said pinchroll being in continuous rolling engagement with said track and being adapted to roll about said track when said feeding head is rotated, and pulley means rotatably mounted on said rotatable feeding head and said frame for receiving a moving length of wire and discharging it in the plane of and tangentially onto said pinch-roll, whereby as said feeding head is rotated wire is drawn from said pulley means between said pinch-roll and said capstan ring and is caused to fall through said capstan ring in substantially circular coils.

4. Apparatus for coiling magnet wire comprising a stationary frame, a capstan ring rigidly aifixed to said stationary frame about a vertical axis, said capstan ring having a circular groove formed about its outer periphery and a circular downwardly and inwardly inclined track formed about an internal conical surface thereon, a feeding head rotatably mounted about the vertical axis of said capstan ring, said feeding head including a flyer wheel disposed concentrically around said capstan ring, a plurality of rollers extending radially inwardly from the inner periphery of said flyer wheel in rolling engagement with said groove in said capstan ring, driving means for rotating said feeding head on said rollers about said capstan ring, a pinchroll rotatably mounted on said feeding head about an axis inclined downwardly toward and intersecting the feeding head axis, said pinch-roll being in continuous rolling engagement with said track on said capstan ring, a sheave for receiving a moving length of wire mounted on said frame above said feeding head substantially centrally over said capstan ring and adapted to swing laterally from side-to-side, and pulley means rotatably mounted on said feeding head for receiving said wire from said sheave and discharging it in the plane of and tangentially onto said pinch-roll, whereby as said feeding head is rotated Wire is drawn from said sheave and pulley means between said pinch-roll and said capstan ring and is caused to fall through said capstan ring in substantially circular coils.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes a horizontal table rotatably mounted beneath said capstan ring and powered by driving means, said table being adapted to have a cylindrical pail secured coaxially thereto, whereby said coils are caused to fall from said feeding head into said pail.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said horizontal table is rotatably mounted about an axis offset from the axis of said feeding head.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said horizontal table is powered by a variable speed drive.

8. Apparatus for coiling magnet wire comprising a stationary frame, a wire feeding head rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, a capstan ring rigidly affixed to said stationary frame coaxially with respect to the axis of said feeding head, a pinch-roll rotatably mounted on said feeding head about a horizontal axis intersecting the feeding head axis, a horizontal circular track formed on the upper surface of said capstan ring, said pinch-roll. being in continuous rolling engagement with said track and being adapted to roll about said track when said feeding head is rotated, and pulley means rotatably mounted on said rotatable feeding head and said frame for receiving a moving length of wire and discharging it in the plane of and tangentially onto said pinch-roll, whereby as said feeding head is rotated wire is drawn from said pulley means between said pinch-roll and said capstan ring and is caused to fall through said capstan ring in substantially circular coils.

9. Apparatus for coiling magnet wire comprising a stationary frame, a capstan ring rigidly afiixed to said stationary frame about a vertical axis, said capstan ring having a circular groove formed about its outer periphery and a horizontal circular track formed about its upper surface, a feeding head rotatably mounted about the axis of said capstan ring, said feeding head including a flyer wheel disposed concentrically around said capstan ring, a plurality of rollers extending radially inwardly from the inner periphery of said fiyer wheel in rolling engagement with the circular groove in said capstan ring, driving means for rotating said feeding head on said rollers about said capstan ring, a pinch-roll rotatably mounted on said feeding head about a horizontal axis intersecting the feeding head axis, said pinch-roll being in continuous rolling engagement with said track on said capstan ring, a sheave for receiving a moving length of wire mounted on said frame above said feeding head substantially centrally over said capstan ring and being adapted to swing laterally from side-to-side, and pulley means rotatably mounted on said feeding head for receiving said wire from said sheave and discharging it in the plane of and tangentially onto said pincl1-roll, whereby as said feeding head is rotated wire is drawn from said sheave and pulley means between said pinch-roll and said capstan ring and is caused to fall through said capstan ring in substantially circular coils.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a horizontal table is rotatably mounted beneath said capstan ring and is powered by driving means, said table being adapted to have a cylindrical pail secured coaxially thereto, whereby said coils are caused to fall from said feeding head into said pail.

ll. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said horizontfl table is rotatably mounted about an axis offset-from the axis of said feeding head.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said hori- Zontal table is powered by a variable speed drive.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,216,224 Bruestle Oct. 1, 1940 2,849,195 Richardson Aug. 26, 1958 2,929,493 Henning Mar. 22, 1960 2,929,574 Henning Mar. 22, 1960 

1. APPARATUS FOR COILING MAGNET WIRE COMPRISING A STATIONARY FRAME, A WIRE FEEDING HEAD MOUNTED ROTATABLY ABOUT A FIXED VERTICAL AXIS, A CAPSTAN RING AFFIXED TO SAID FRAME COAXIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE FEEDING HEAD AXIS OF ROTATION, A PINCH-ROLL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FEEDING HEAD ABOUT AN AXIS INTERSECTING THE FEEDING HEAD AXIS OF ROTATION, A CIRCULAR TRACK FORMED ABOUT SAID CAPSTAN RING PERPENDICULAR TO THE PINCH-ROLL AXIS, SAID PINCH-ROLL BEING IN CONTINUOUS ROLLING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TRACK, AND PULLEY MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROTATABLE FEEDING HEAD AND SAID FRAME FOR RECEIVING A MOVING LENGTH OF WIRE AND DISCHARGING IT IN THE PLANE OF AND TANGENTIALLY ONTO SAID PINCH-ROLL, WHEREBY AS SAID FEEDING HEAD IS ROTATED WIRE IS DRAWN FROM SAID PULLEY MEANS BETWEEN 